Lumpy Skin Disease: 3 April 2024

Lumpy Skin Disease

• About: It is a viral disease that affects cattle. It is genetically related to the goatpox and sheeppox virus family.
• Transmitted by: Blood-feeding insects, such as certain species of flies and mosquitoes, or ticks.
• Causes: Fever, nodules on the skin, and can also lead to death, especially in animals that have not previously been exposed to the virus.
• Symptoms: The incubation period for lumpy skin disease is between 14 days post-infection.
  • After an initial period of high fever (41°C) and swollen lymph glands, the animal may develop large, firm nodules that are up to 5 cm in diameter in the skin.
  • These can be found all over the body, but particularly on the head.

• Preventive Measures: Control of animal movement, Restriction with affected animals, and persons dealing with such animals, Vaccination.

Why in News:

• In a breakthrough, a multi-institutional team of scientists has unveiled critical insights into the evolution and origin of lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) strains which led to outbreaks in India.